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His uncle is also the Lord of the Manor of Bucklebury, an estate in Berkshire where the Duchess of Cambridge's parents Carole and Michael Middleton live in the Manor House.

Oxford Crown Court heard Hartley Russell and his friends William Ward and Omari Ramadhari were discovered by police on August 28 last year at around 10pm after officers were alerted to reports of a VW Golf being driven erratically.

Hartley Russell was found with ketamine all over his face, the court heard.

Henry James, prosecuting, said: "Police arrived and on approaching the car officers formed the impression it had tried to reverse into some woods and got stuck.

"They appeared completely unaware of the officers' arrival. They were seen to have white powder around their faces.

"When Mr Hartley Russell, who was in the driver's seat, was spoken to, he appeared very unsteady on his feet and managed to discard a small package as he was coming out of the car."

The package thrown away by trainee tree surgeon Hartley Russell was found to have £120 worth of ketamine inside, while a cigarette pouch discarded by Ramadhari had a wrap containing ketamine worth £10, along with some cannabis.

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Hartley Russell was convicted for possession of ketamine

"Damning text messages" were found on the three defendants' phones which referred to "the sale of wobble" - another name for ketamine - and also drug dealing.

Hartley Russell puffed out his cheeks and breathed a sigh of relief after learning he had escaped jail after admitting possessing the class B drug with intent to supply.

Judge Ian Pringle told the three defendants he was taking "an exceptional course" and suspending their prison terms.

Hartley Russell, who has admitted he has a drugs problem, insisted he is now clean. He is also awaiting sentencing after being caught driving while under the influence.

Matthew Bainbridge, representing Hartley Russell, said his client had never been given a drug referral treatment order by the probation service because he had only ever been convicted of possessing class B drugs.

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Hartley Russell escaped jail despite having previous drug convictions

They were seen to have white powder around their faces

Henry James

Orders are normally reserved for those found in possession of class A drugs, he said, prompting Judge Pringle to admit it was "a shame" treatment was not automatically available for Hartley Russell.

Mr Bainbridge said: "He doesn't dispute he has a drug problem. It's a shame he wasn't given the opportunity to address it beforehand - he has never been offered an intervention, and that reflects the low level seriousness of the offence than anything else.

"He hasn't been given the opportunity to address what's essentially the underlying cause of the offence."

Hartley Russell of Bromyard Road, Whitbourne, Worcestershire, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for possession of ketamine with intent to supply, while Ward was given 12 months for the same offence.

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Hartley Russell's uncle is a family friend of the Middletons

Ramadhari was jailed for 16 months for being concerned in the supply of ketamine and given a concurrent four month sentence for possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

All of the sentences were suspended for two years. All the defendants must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months.

Judge Pringle said: "It is only a class B drug at the moment but it is horse doping medicine, and young people who take it call it wobble because it seems amusing to see the effects it has.

"It will eventually kill you if you carry on, and I hope you all realise that it is a most serious offence."